Mumbai Police denies Kunal Kamra more time to appear, issues second summons despite 'threat to life' claim

The case was filed based on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.

Kamra, who faces a defamation case, was initially summoned by Khar police on Tuesday but requested a week's time.

His request was denied, and a second summons was issued on Wednesday, NDTV reported.

Kamra's ‘traitor’ jibe and its fallout

Kamra sparked controversy after referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor) in a Bollywood parody song during a performance at the Habitat Comedy Club.

The remark referenced Shinde’s 2022 rebellion, which led to the Shiv Sena’s split and the fall of Uddhav Thackeray’s government.

In the show, shot at Mumbai’s Habitat studio, Kamra sang a parody of Bholi Si Surat from the 1997 Bollywood film Dil To Pagal Hai, using the ‘gaddar’ jibe against Shinde.

Following the video’s release, Shiv Sena workers vandalised equipment at the venue.

The next day, civic officials carried out demolition at the studio, citing building law violations.

Habitat Studio shut down

The Habitat Comedy Club has announced its temporary closure, stating that it only provides a platform and does not control performers' content. Kamra also clarified that no political party or the venue itself was responsible for his remarks.

"Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served," he said on X, according to the NDTV report.

Kamra added that he does not fear intimidation and is willing to cooperate with the police and courts.

However, he questioned whether the law would be applied equally to those responsible for the vandalism and the civic authorities who carried out demolition without prior notice.

Kamra slams T-Series over copyright claims

Kamra also criticised Bollywood studio T-Series, alleging that his stand-up special Naya Bharat, which includes jokes about Eknath Shinde, was flagged for copyright violations on YouTube.

On X, Kamra shared a screenshot showing that Naya Bharat, uploaded on March 23, had been blocked due to copyright claims, preventing it from generating revenue.

"Hello T-Series, stop being a stooge. Parody and satire come under fair use legally. I haven't used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song," he wrote, urging other creators to take note.

In the video, which has amassed over 76 lakh views and nearly six lakh likes, Kamra performed a parody of Hawa Hawai from the 1987 film Mr India to critique Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. T-Series, which owns the rights, claimed Kamra had used the song without permission.

"Mr Kunal Kamra has not taken any authorisation or approval for the usage of the underlying musical work in the song. Hence, the content has been blocked for infringement of composition rights," a T-Series spokesperson told PTI.

Kamra, however, remained defiant, calling corporate monopolies in India “nothing short of mafia” and urging viewers to watch or download his special before it is taken down.

Kamra’s supporters donate lakhs

Kunal Kamra has received a wave of financial support from fans in India and abroad amid the controversy over his roast of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, according to an NDTV report.

Donations, ranging from ₹40 to ₹10,000 in India and various foreign currencies, have amassed several lakhs, said the report.

Many supporters are urging him to launch a fundraiser to cover potential legal expenses, while Indian fans are also contributing through YouTube’s Super Thanks feature, the report added.